Creating Caring Communities: The Block Parent® Program Ensures Safety for All

Creating Caring Communities: The Block Parent® Program Ensures Safety for All

In today’s fast-paced world of expanding communities and rising crime rates, ensuring the safety of our children and vulnerable members of society is of the utmost importance. Caring communities are the cornerstone of protection, and The Block Parent® Program of Canada Inc. (BPPCI) works to make every community a safe place for everyone.

As Canada’s longest-standing volunteer-run child safety organization, the BPPCI works tirelessly to create safer communities and provide a helping hand to those in need. With their distinctive red and white window sign, Block Parents offer a sense of security, assuring children, seniors, and others that help is readily available when lost, frightened, or distressed.

The BPPCI has a rich history of connecting caring adults with those who require assistance. From coast to coast, dedicated volunteers called Block Parents selflessly open their homes as temporary refuges during emergencies. These Block Parents undergo thorough screening by the police and receive comprehensive program instructions from local volunteers, ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved.

When someone is in a crisis, the Block Parent® window sign serves as a visual cue to indicate that a responsible adult is available for immediate assistance. Whether lost, frightened or distressed, the poster is a reminder that help is at hand.

“Each time that a child seeks assistance by ringing my doorbell and I am able to help is a precious moment for me,” shared Francine Chartrand, Director of BPPCI. “I have been part of Block Parent® for over 13 years now. I became aware of the Block Parent® Program when a young boy, barely four years old, went missing and was found dead a few days later. At the time, I told myself that if I had done something to help him, he might still be with his family. I looked into Block Parent® and joined the Program. Since then, I have been involved at all levels—local, regional, provincial, and national to find the most means possible to ensure child and senior safety and to promote prevention and awareness in schools, senior citizens centres and child care centres.”

By working with educators and police, Block Parents help make your community safer. The network of Block Parent® homes serves as a constant reminder that citizens are watchful in their neighbourhoods, acting as a powerful deterrent to criminals and troublemakers.

In addition to the safety network, BPPCI offers community education programs to increase the personal safety of children, teens and seniors. Education is the first step to safety, so the “Danger Has Many Faces” program contains lesson plans and posters to be presented to school students and designed to be taught by either a Block Parent volunteer or the teacher.

As Linda Patterson, President of the BPPCI, explained, “Not only do we continue to play a critical role in keeping children safe, but as our population ages, we also provide an important safety resource for seniors and others as well.” Community programs like BPPCI start from the support of generous donors like yourself.

It costs about $1,500 to recruit 10 Block Parents and establish a Block Parent® Program in a community or neighbourhood with 25,000 residents and three elementary schools. A $500 contribution produces enough materials for three elementary schools. A donation of any amount will help make communities safer across Canada.

Your financial support will help establish more Block Parent® communities across the country and reach more children with important safety information and materials.

Please donate today to support the Block Parent® Program and join your local chapter by emailing lindapatterson100@gmail.com